Can-cutter.



Patented Oct. 29,1901. G. E. STUBCK.

CAN CUTTER.

(Application filed. July 29, 1901.)

(No Model.)

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE EDWARD ST OROK, OFBALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

CAN-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 685,654, dated October 29, 1901.

Application filed July 29,1901.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLARENCE EDWARD STOROK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Cutters and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinverition, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in can-openers, and particularly to that class of can-openers which are provided with means for gripping and holding the can to be opened.

It consists in'a can-opener provided with gripping-jaws for holding the can and a handle pivoted thereto, carrying a cutter adapted to be forced into the end of the can, the said gripping-jaws affording pivotal support for the end of the handle of the cutter, the structure being such that the can may be easily and yet rigidly held in position while the cancutter is operated for cutting the end of the can.

It also consists in certain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a top plan View of the grippingjaws of my improved can-opener. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the can-opener, showing the gripping-jaws in place around the end of a can and the cutter forced through the top of a can ready for the cutting operation. Fig. 3 represents an end elevation of the grippingjaws. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the cutter and handle removed from the gripping-jaws. Fig. 5 is a top plan View of the same. Fig. 6 is a detail side elevation of the cutting-blade removed from the handle.

In providing a can-opener for opening cans of the usual size I-find it very desirable to form the same with suitable gripping means by which the can to be operated upon can be firmly gripped and held in position by one hand while the other hand operates the cutting mechanism for opening the end of the can. It is also desirable to make the gripping means capable of adjustment to cans of different sizes in common use. In embodying this invention in practical form I construct Serial No. 701170. (No model.)

the gripping portion of the opener of jaws 1 1, which are provided with semicircular gripping portions, preferably formed with serrations or teeth 2 2 on their inner edges. These jaws 1 are pivoted together, as at 3, their ends being preferably turned downwardly to aslight degree and arranged to lap over each,

other,'as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. I usually interpose a Washer, as4, between the ends of the jaws, as seen in said Fig. 3. l I

The other ends of the gripping-jawsare prolonged to form handles 5 5, which maybe grasped by the operator and drawn together for tightly gripping a can between the jaws l 1. with a vertical standard, as 6, extending upwardly from the jaws a suitable distance, as'seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and pro- Each of the gripping-jaws is formed' .7 jecting laterally from the upper end of each standard is an arm 7. The inner ends of the arms 7 preferably meet and are formed with elongated slots, as 8 8, thus joining the arms 7 7 together in an adjustable manner.

cans of various sizes, for ordinary purposes 7 While the jaws 1 1 may be arranged to fit.

an adjustment which will adapt them to the j of the ordinary corn-can, the pivot-pin will be held in a central position over the end thereof by the outer ends of the slots 8 8, which are then brought into coincidence with each other. The can-gripping means is thus capable of adjusting itself instantly to either size of can and will hold the cutter properly for engaging the end of the can. The standards 6 are made of sufficient height to extend above the end of a can after the grippingjaws have been arranged around the body portion of the can, as seen in Fig. 2.

The pivot-pin 9 carries the end of a cutter- The said cutter-handle 10 is pref- 7 handle 10. erably formed of two membersan inner one 11 and an outer one 12-which are adjustable with respect to each other. is used to adapt the cutter to different sizes of cans gripped by the gripping-jaws. The inner member 11 is formed with an elongated slot 13, through which the inner end of the outer member 12 may be inserted. This inner end of the said outer member 12 is formed with an offset portion 14, on the end of which is formed a laterally-extending rib or projection 15, adapted to engage recesses or grooves 16 and 17, formed in a thickened portion of theinnerhandle member 11. The outer end of the member 11 is formed with a reduced portion 18, adapted to coincide with a reduced portion 19 on the outer member 12. A loose ring or collar 20 slides upon the re duced portion 19 of the outer member 12 and is adapted to be slipped over the reduced end 18 of the member 11 for clamping it in position against the outer member 12. The outer member 12 carries a knife or cutter 21 projecting therefrom and having sharp cutting edges, as 22 22. The cutter is preferably shaped as shown in Fig. 6, being approximately spear-shaped in side elevation. To one side of the knife or cutter 21 is arranged a'lateral projection 23 on the said outer member 12 of the handle, which regulates the depth to which the knife 21 may be sunk into the metal of the can.

When cutting a can of large diameter, the outer member 12 is adjusted so that its end rib or projection 15 engages the outer groove or recess l6ofthe inner member 11. This will bring the cutting-knife 21 near the edge of the can. \Vhen a small can is to be opened,

the outer member 12 is so adjusted that its end rib or projection 15 engages the inner recess or groove 17. This will draw the knife inwardly toward the pivot-point 9 and bring the knife near the edge of a small can and in a proper position for cutting the same.

When the structure is to be used, it is only 7 necessary to slip the gripping-jaws over the end of the can to be opened and draw the same firmly into engagement with the sides of the can by grasping handles 5 5. The handle of the cutter is then drawn around to one of the arms 7 and pressed downwardly slightly to force the cutting-knife 21 into the cover of the can. The joint between the cutter-handle and the arms 7 is sufficiently loose to permit of a little play between the said arms and the said-handle. After the cutter 21 has been forced into the metal of the cover, the can being firmly held by the handles 5 5, the on tter-handle is drawn around the pivot-point 9, so that the knife 21 makes a cut around the edge of the can until the other arm 7 is reached by the handle.

The arms 7 7 are arranged sufficiently close together so that a cut of ample length will have been thus made in the cover of the can.

When a can of different size is to be operated upon, it is only necessary to adjust the members of the cutter-handle as above de- This adjustment scribed, when the apparatus is ready for operation upon said can.

The parts are extremely simple in structure and can be made strong and effective for the purpose, and the device can be made in an inexpensive manner.

Among other advantages possessed by my improved can-opener I would especially mention the safety with which it may be operated. It is so arranged and constructed that acan can be gripped, and opened without the possibility of the operators hands coming in contact with the ragged tin where the same has been cut. The movement of the cutter is also positively predetermined and cannot accidentally slip and cause damage.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A can-cutter comprising means for gripping the end of a can, means carried thereby for automatically centering a cutter over the end of cans of different sizes, and a cutter comprising a handle pivoted to said gripping means, and a cutting-blade carried thereby, substantially as described.

2. A can holder and cutter, comprising grippingjaws pivoted together, automatically-adjustable means'for holding a pivot-pin over the center of cans of different sizes, and a cutter havingahandle pivoted on said pivotpin, whereby the cutter may be properly held in position for rotation in opening the end of the can which is being operated upon, substantially as described.

3. A can holder and cutter, comprising gripping-jaws, arms supported thereon and extending toward each other, a pivot-pin adjustably connecting said arms at their meeting ends, whereby the holder may be used upon cans of different sizes and yet center a the pin over the center of the can, a cutter pivoted to said pivot-pin for cutting the end of a can, substantially as described.

4. A can holder and cutter, formed with gripping-jaws having serrations or teeth upon their inner surfaces, said jaws being pivoted together at one end and formed with handles at their outer ends, standards carried by said jaws, so that the jaws may be arranged about the circumference of the can while the cutter may be supported over the end of the can, arms carried by said standards and extending over the end of the can toward each other, said arms having slots in their ends, a pivot pin for engaging both slots, whereby the said pin will be centered automatically over cans of different sizes, and a cutter having its handle pivoted to said pivot-pin for forming a fulcrum for the cutting operation, substantially as described.

5. A can holder and cutter, comprising gripping means for engaging a can, a cutter pivoted thereto comprising a cutting-blade, and adjustable handle portions carrying the said blade, whereby the blade may be adjust IIG ed to cut cans of diiferent diameter, substantially as described.

6. A can holder and cutter, comprising a can-gripping means, a cutter pivoted thereto, comprising a cutting-blade, a divisible handle carrying the said blade, and means for adj usting one section of the handle upon the other for regulating the distance of the cutter from its fulcrum, to adapt it to differentsized cans, substantially as described.

7. A can cutter and holder, comprising a can-gripping means, a cutter pivoted thereto comprising a cutting-blade, and adivisible handle carrying the same, one section of the said handle being'slotted and provided with recesses and grooves, the other section having an oifset end portion adapted to be inserted through said slot, a projection or rib on said offset portion for engaging the recesses or grooves of the other handle-section,

and a sliding sleeve or'loop for binding the parts in their adjusted positions, whereby the,

cutter may be adapted to cans of difierent diameters, substantially as described.

S. Acan cutter and holder, comprising a can-gripping means, a can-cutter pivoted handle to one side of the cutting-blade for forming a stop to limit the depth to which the cutter may be forced into the topof a I can, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CLARENCE EDWARD STORGK.

Witnesses: I

GEO. J. STORCK, WM. A. STORCK. 

